Feeling stressed and like you can’t clear your head? Get this app. Now

How’s your December going? Running round like a headless chicken? Screaming at your kids/colleagues/partner? Worried about how to juggle work and home responsibilities, with too-much-to-do-in-too-little-time?

If that sounds like you, then I’ve a recommendation.

I’ve always meditated. On and off. Well, more off than on, in truth – but it’s something I’ve always turned to, to restore calm in troubled times. But this time? There were too many thoughts whirring in my mind to focus.

I remembered that lately, several people had recommended an app to me called Headspace and I thought I’d give it a go.

I’d actually downloaded it months ago but hadn’t got round to using the app. I started with the Take 10 programs: 10 days of guided meditations, interspersed with little films at the start about how meditation works on the mind, and tips and tricks.

And it bloody worked. Like a treat.

All it took was 10 minutes in the morning, listening to the middle-England tones of Andy Puddicome, the founder (unlikely-but-true: he briefly trained at Moscow State Circus) and I was a changed person. By day two, my stress levels had eased and things which seemed important – oh, like not having an office or any staff – were back in proportion. Small bumps on life’s road.

Indeed, on Day Three, I had a complete epiphany: losing both staff wasn’t a challenge – it was actually a fantastic opportunity to swap their roles around.

72 hours before I couldn’t see my nose in front of my face, let alone have a light bulb moment like that.

I’m now three weeks in and I think I can put my hand on my heart and say I’m going to be carving out 10-20 minutes for Headspace for – oh, the rest of my life.

Three times this year I’ve heardArianna Huffington talk about the importance of mindfulness and meditation in our busy lives – now being adopted by large corporations like J.P. Morgan, as well as Google and General Mills; she devotes a large section to it in her book Thrive.

I’m reminded of the Kipling line: ‘If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you…’

Because that’s been me, these last few weeks. There may be a lot of headless chickens – not to mention turkeys – right now, but thanks to Headspace I’m not one of them. In business, a cool head is one of the greatest assets you can have. But it’s hard to stay that way, amidst life’s frenzy.

Three weeks on and I have two fantastic new staff and an office 10 times nicer than our previous one.